Sotary



C. L. AND L. F. RAGOT.

`ROTRY ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 8.1919.

Patented Nov. 11, 1919.

i 2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

C.| AND L. F. RAGOT..

ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 8.1919.

HI "III Il a Paenfed Nov. 11, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 CHES L. RAGOT, F NEW YORK, N. Y., ND LOUS F. FAGOT, 0FMLFORD, PENN- SYLVANXA.

ROTRY ENGXNE.

Specification of Letters ltatent.

Patented Nov. 11, 1919.

Application tiled July 8, 1919. Serial No 309,352.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that we, CHARLES L. RAGor,

.a citizen of the United States, and a resi- `dent of- Kingsbridge, NewYork city, in

This invention is an improvement in ro'.-

. tary engines, pumps, compressors, or the like, of that `type inwhich aplurality of cylinders are arranged around an axis of rotation andthepistons therein have operative engagement with aguide encircling theaxis at varying distances therefrom for eiiecting the reciprocation ofthe pistons, or bodily movement of the cylinders, or both. Engines ofthis'general type are disclosed in our prior Patents 1,088,623 issuedFebruary 24, 1914, and 1,302,709 issued May 6, 1919. Although theinvention is applicable to mechanisms inwhich a iiuid is operated uponby the relative movement of the cylinders and pistons, such forinstance, as pumps or compressors, yet it is particularly designed foruse in mechanisms where the pressure of a fluid is utilized to securethe relative movement. We include both types of mechanism under thebroad term of engines, i

Our present .invention relates f particularly to the piston and thecylmder corrA struction, and has for its Amain object'to providemechanical means whereby frlctlon of the pistons within the cylinderbores is minimized andthe side pressure or thrust of `the piston againstthe cylinder Wall is completely eliminated, leaving the pistons free tofloat within the cylinders without forced` contacting therewith. Afurther object of our invention is to more effectively prevent rotationor turning' of thev pistons within their cylinders by the. guiding ofthem throughout their strokes. A further object of our inventionis toprovide a piston unit built up of a combination of simple mechanicalparts,v so related to each other that their assembling requires nobolts, screws, or other fastening means. A further object of ourinvention is to simplify the delivery of lubricant tothe piston, guidesand rollers. In carrying out our invention, we provide a pair ofsuitable slide blocks extending radially beyond the bore of eachcylinder and situated at diametrically opposed points parallel to theaxis of rotation of the cylinder-group, which slide blocks are carriedby the piston and engage with slideways extending longitudinally of thecylinder. Preferably the slide blocks are mounted in line with the axisof the roller spindle of each piston and their engagement with theslideways takes the side thrust caused by the tangential pressure of the,roller against the receding track or cam surface. These slidesconstitute a cross head and relieve the cylinder walls of all sidepressure and prevent the piston from turning within the` cylinder.Preferably these slide blocks `are formed of substantially anti-frictionblocks in position but when the piston is removed from the cylinder, thebearing bushings may be removed radially of the piston and the rollerand its shaft removed axially of the piston. A clearer understanding ofour invention may be had by referring to the accompanying drawings, andthe following description which will render apparent other importantfeatures of our improved construction.

In these drawings:

Figure 1 is a sectional longitudinal section through an engineconstructed in accordanceA with our invention, said section heilig takensubstantially on the line 1-1 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the engine with one of the outer housingsremoved to more clearly show the operating parts, the upper half being asection taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, the uppermost piston and thecentral distributing member being re-v moved. y

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a piston unit. showing the rollerdisplaced axially of the piston, and the bearing blocks displacedendwise of their sockets, oil conduit being shown partly in section.

F ig. t is a side elevation of a piston taken at right angles to Fig. 3,also showing the roller displaced axially of the piston, and

Fig. 5 is a transverse section on the line 5-5 of F ig. 2.

In these drawings We show one embodiment of our invention as applied toan internal combustion engine, but we have not attempted to show the'entire engine, nor various features such as cooling, admission andexhaust motive fluid, and ignition system, as it will be understood thatsuch features constitute no portion of our present invention.

Tn the specific form illustrated, there is employed a housing made up oftwo rigidly connected stationary sections 10, and 11, having a base (notshown) or other means for securing or supporting the same. Within thishousing or frame, and rigidly secured thereto, is a guide encircling theaxis of rotation of the cylinder. This is illustrated as an ellipticaltrack 12 butmay be of any other desired form, such that successiveportions of its surface are at varying distances from the axis offrotation, and will present a cam surface for the piston rollers, wherebythe pistons are caused to reciprocate within the said cylinders as saidcylinders rotate bodily around their axis of rotation. This track isshown as elliptical but we do not desire to be limited to thatparticular form.

Housing or frame 10 presents a bearing or support for the rotary partsof the engine. This is shown as ball bearings 13 for a shaft 14 on oneend of which is formed a flange 15, to which is bolted the rotor 16.This rotor is shown as made up of a plurality-of radially disposedequally spaced cylinders, six in number, although such number is notessential or even important so far as the present invention is concernedas it will be understood that any number may. be arranged about the axisof rot-ation. Housing 11 supports a stationary motive fluid distributer17 which projects into a central chamber or socket in the rotor 16 andis dis posed co-axial with the shaft 14. This distributer may have aninletpassage 18 and an exhaust passage 19, the inner ends of which haveportions going into and out of registry with the cylinders during therotation of the latter. We have not illustrated this distributer lindetail as itlforms no portion of the present invention, and is beingmade the subject matter of a separate invention.

Within the cylinders are pistons 2O which have piston rod portions 21rigid and preferably integral therewith. Each piston at its outer end,that is, at the outer end of the piston rod. portion has sockets 22within which are mounted bushings or bearing blocks 23 which latter'have rigid therewith andvpreferably integral therewith slide blocks 24.The bushings or bearing blocks 23 constitute bearings for the spindle orshaft 25 of rollers 2'6, while the slide block portions 24 reciprocatewithin slideways 27 shown in the form of slots formed in the rotor atopposite sides of each cylinder and extending longitudinally thereof atdiametrically opposed sides. The length of these slots istdetermined bythe length of the piston stroke plus the length of the slide block andplus the desired clearance at the inner end to prevent knocking. rlherollers 26 are formed rigid with and preferably integral with theirspindles 25. To permit of the insertion of these spindles or rollershaft portions within the bearing blocks or bushings 23, the sockets 22have gaps or openings 28 at their outer sides, that is, axially of thepiston. These openings are of slightly greater width than the diameterof the spindles 25 but are of materially less width than the diameter ofthe bushings 23. Thus in assembling the roller and its bearings, theroller is brought to the position shown in Figs. 3`and 4 while thepiston is removed from the cylinder. The roller is then moved axially ofthe piston until it comes to the position indicated in dotted lines inFig. 4. The bearing blocks or bushings are then brought to the positionshowin in Fig. 3, that is, endwise displaced from their sockets radiallyof the piston. The bushings or bearing blocks are then moved inwardlytelescoping with the roller spindle within the sockets. When in theinnermost limiting position they constitute an edective connectionbetween the roller and the piston and prevent any movement of the rollerradially in respect to the piston. The piston, its roller, and bushingsare then moved into the cylinder with the slide blocks 24 entering theslots or slideways 27. The bearing blocks or bushings 23 are of greaterwidth than the slots 27 and are of such length that they engage with theedges 29 of the flanges 30 at each side of the slots 27 so that when thepiston is in position, the bearing bushings 23 are positively preventedfrom endwise movement to liberate the roller. the slide blocks 24 arenon-circular in crosssections and engaged with opposite sides of theslots 27, they prevent any rotation of the bushings 23 within thesockets 22.A

For lubricating the slide blocks within the slideways, and forlubricating the roller spindles Within the bushings, the distributer ispreferably provided with a longitudinal passage 31 through which oil maybe delivered to a chamber or pocket 32 at the inner end of thedistributer socket within the rotor 16. Each cylinder has an oil passage 33 extending lengthwise thereof, and

within each oil passage is a tube or conduit 34 mounted to reciprocatewith the piston. As shown, each tube 34 is carried by an extension 35 onone of the slide blocks 24. The outer or delivery end of each tube 34communicates with a series of longitudinal oil ducts and branch passages36 whereby the outer surfaces of spindle 25 and slide blocks 24 may belubricated. The slide blocks having a stud 37 thereon in alinement withthe bushings 23 and on these studs are mounted rollers 38 engaging withtracks 39. These tracks are shown as formed integral with the housings10 and 11 and are facing outwardly whereas the main track 12 facesinwardly. The three tracks are substantially parallel. The main work isdone by the engagement of the rollers 26 with the track 12 while theengagement of the rollers 38 with the tracks 39 serves to keep therollers 26 in engagement with the track 12 and prevent the pistons fromfalling inwardly away from the track when the engine is rotated withoutmotive fluid. The rollers 38 are shown as held in place by nuts 40 andthe studs 37 which carry said rollers also have radial branch passagesfor lubrication of t-he bearings of the rollers. 'Spark plugs 41 forigniting the gas charges are loca-ted at the side of the base of thecylinders and rotate bodily with them and get their energizing currentin consecutive order atk the time of firing from a fixed contact (notshown).

From the foregoing it is thought that the functions and operation of thedevice will be apparent and that no further or separateexplanat-ion' ofthe operation is necessary:

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is:

1. ln a rotary engine, a piston having a piston rod` portion formedintegral therewith and having a pair of diainetrically opposedopen-ended sockets radially disposed in respect to the axis of thepiston, each of said sockets having an opening in the side thereofaxially of the piston and of less width than the maximum width of thesocket. a roller having a shaft portion of less diameter than the widthof said openings whereby the shaft portions may be moved laterally intothe sockets, and bearing blocks for said shaft portions secured withinsaid sockets and removable there- :from radially ofthe piston.

2,y In a rotary engine, a cylinder, a piston having a piston rod portionformed integral therewith and having a pair of diametrically opposedopen-ended sockets radially disposed in respect tothe axis of thepiston, each of said sockets having an opening in the side thereofaxially of the piston and of less width than the maxiinuni width of thesocket, a roller having a shaftportion of less diameter than the widthof said openings whereby the shaft portions may be moved laterally intothe sockets and bearing blocks for said shaft portions secured withinsaid sockets and re- `movable therefrom radially of the piston,

said cylinder having means engaging with said bearing blocks fornormally preventing their removal from the sockets radially of thepiston.

3. ln a rotary engine, a cylinder, a pair 0f guides extending lengthwisethereof along opposite sides, a piston within said cylinder having apiston rod portion rigid therewith., said piston rod portion havingradially disposed opposed sockets, bearing blocks disposed within saidsockets, and held against removal therefrom radially of the piston byengagement with said guides, and a roller having `opposed shaft portionsmounted within said bearing blocks.

4. In a rotary engine, a cylinder, guide members at the end thereof andpresenting slots extending lengthwise of the cylinder, a piston withinsaid cylinder and having radially disposed sockets, bearing blockswithin said sockets and having projecting portions engaging within saidslots, and a roller having shaft portions journaled in said bearingblocks.

5. ln a rotary engine, a cylinder, guide members at the end thereof andpresenting slots extending lengthwise of the cylinder, a piston withinsaid cylinder and having radially disposed sockets. bearing blockswithin said sockets and having projecting portions engaging within saidslots, and a roller having shaft portions journaled in said bearingblocks. said sockets having openings in the sides thereof axially of thepiston and of greater width than the diameter of said shaft portions andof smaller width than the diameter of the exterior of said bearing`blocks whereby said roller may be removed from the piston axially of thelatter-upon the radial removal of the bearing blocks from said sockets.

l6. In a rotary engine, a cylinder having a pair of longitudinal slots,a piston hav'- ing a pair of radial sockets, a. roller having shaftportions` and bearing blocks within said sockets for supporting saidshaft portions` and having guide shoes engaging in said slots. i

7. En a rotary engine, a cylinder having a pair of longitudinal slots, apiston having a pair of radial sockets, a roller having shaft portionsand bearing blocks within said sockets for supporting said shaftportions, and having guide shoes engaging in said slots, said socketshaving openings in the sides thereof axial of the cylinder of greaterwidth than said shaft portions and less width than the external diameterof said bearing blocks, and said bearing blocks l l. t5

being of greater diameter than the Width of said slots whereby saidbearing blocks are normally prevented from radial removal but whenremoved radially permit the removal of the roller an'd its shaftportions axially of the piston.

8. A rotary engine having a plurality of radially disposed cylinders anda pair of radially disposed substantially parallel flanges upon oppositesides thereof and rigid therewith, said flanges having opposed pairs ofslots, opposite to the axis of each cylinder, a piston within eachcylinder, a roller carried by each piston, and a pair of bearing blocksdetachable from and carried directly by each piston and carrying itscorresponding roller and each having a projecting shoe portion slidablewithin its corresponding slot.

9. A rotary engine having a vplurality of radially disposed cylindersand a pair of radially disposed substantially parallel ianges uponopposite sides thereof and rigid therewith, said flanges having o posedpairs of slots opposite to the axis ofp each cylinder, a piston Withineach cylinder, a roller carried by each piston, a pair of bearing blockscarried by each piston for its corresponding roller and each having aprojecting shoe portion slidable within its corresponding slot, an oilchamber centrally disposed in respect to said cylinders, and a pair oftelescopic conduits connecting a bearing block of each piston with saidoil chamber.

10. A rotary engine, including a plurality of radially disposedcylinders bodily movable about an axis of rotation, a centrally disposedoil chamber, pistons within said cylinders, rollers carried by saidpistons, a guide encircling said axis and with which said rollersengage, bearings carried by said pistons for said rollers, and means fordelivering oil from said chamber to Said bearings.

11. A rotary engine, including a plurality of radially disposedcylinders bodily movable about an axis of rotation, an inwardly facingguide encircling said axis of rotation at varying distances therefrom,an outwardly facing guide parallel to'said first mentioned guide,pistons within said cylinders, a shaft journaled in each piston anddisposed radially thereof, a pair of rollers carried by each shaft, oneof said rollers engaging one of said guides and the other of saidrollers engaging the other guide, a centrally disposed oil chamber, anda pair of telescopic conduits extending lengthwise of each cylinder andconnecting its piston shaft intermediate of the rollers on the latn terwith said oil chamber.

'12. A rotary engine, including a cylinder having an oil passageextending lengthwise thereof, and a slot parallel to said passage butbeyond the end of the latter, a piston within said cylinder and having aguide portion disposed within said slot, a roller carried by said pistonand having a shaft portion, and an oil conduit secured to said guideportion and telescoping with said oil passage.

13. A rotary engine including a plurality of radially disposed cylindersbodily movable about an axis of rotation, three substantially parallelguides encircling said axis of rotation at varying distances therefrom,one facing in one direction and the other two facing in the oppositedirection, pistons within said cylinders, a shaft carried by each pistonand disposed radially thereof, and three rollers carried by each shaft,each engaging with its corresponding iide.

14. A rotary engine including a plurality of radially disposed cylindersbodily movable about an axis of rotation, three substantially parallelguides encircling said axis of rotation at varying distances therefrom,one facing in one direction and the other two in the opposite direction,pistons within said cylinders, and three rollers carried by each pistonwith a common axis radial of the piston, and engaging with theircorresponding guides.

15. A rotary engine including a plurality of radially disposed cylindersbodily movable about an axis of rotation, an inwardly facing guideencircling said axis of rotation at varying distances therefrom, a pairof outwardly facing guides parallel to said first mentioned guide,pistons within said cylinders, av pair of bearing blocks carried by eachpiston, and threerollers in axial alinement carried by each pair ofbearing blocks and engaging with theircorresponding guides.

16. 'A rotary engine, including a plurality of radially disposedcylinders bodily movable about an axis of rotation, a plurality ofsubstantially parallel guides encircling said axis of rotation atvarying distances therefrom, one of said guides facing inwardly andanother facing outwardly, pistons in' said cylinders, rollers carried by'said pistons and engaging with said guides, a centrally disposed oilchamber, and a pair of telescopic conduits extending lengthwise -of eachcylinder and connecting the bear- CHAS. lL. RAGOT. LGUIS l?. RAGUT.

